Insight Indochina Holiday 18 Days

Day 01: Bangkok Arrival

Welcome to Thailand! After getting to the hotel, take a moment to relax before a leisurely introduction starts. Bangkok, like most Thai cities, was built around canals and rivers and the best preserved neighborhoods are still right there, on the water’s edge. By boat you explore Chao Phraya River and the lesser known canals and slide through these quite, green places where local families still live like in the past. That feeling continues in Wat Arun, “the Temple of Dawn” which you can climb to have a great, welcoming view across the Chao Phraya River and the Grand Palace on the other bank. Your hotel in Bangkok could be beautifully located on Chao Phraya River.

Meal: None

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 02: Bangkok City Tour

Visit TEMPLE CITY, GRAND PALACE AND KLONG TOUR WITH LUNCH

Visit the Grand Palace, Coronation Hall, Funeral Hall and famous Emerald Buddha.

and Wat Pho, which is the oldest temple in Bangkok and houses of the Reclining Buddha, a 45 meter-long statue which depicts Buddha entering Nirvana. Wat Pho is also Thailand s first university and houses a wealth of art. It is still an important centre for traditional medicine and massage. Take a long-tail boat or motor boat on Chao Phaya River and the canals at Thonburi side to see Thai houses and typical rural life of Thai People who still have easy lifestyle by the river and also visit Temple of Dawn.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 03: Bangkok – Siem Reap

Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel for check in. Tonight we will enjoy dinner with Apsara Dance Performance. Overnight at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 04: Siem Reap Tour

Early morning, we will visit sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple then we return to hotel for breakfast. Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 05: Siem Reap Tour

Breakfast at hotel and we will continue to visit the Main Shrine, where the local people usually worship, with its statue of Yeay Teap, Preah Ang Chek and Preah Ang Chorm. Buying jasmine and lotus flowers to worship is very important for the Cambodians. We continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale! Then continue to Wat Bo, a large, highly respected pagoda, founded in the 18th Century. Like the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, the vihear of Wat Bo contains unique wall paintings of the Reamker that are said to be late 19th Century. Look for the daily-life market scenes such as an opium smoking Chinese merchant, the colonial era French officer at the market and the French soldiers attending a traditional dance performance. Also of interest is the large collection of Buddha statues located behind the main Buddha. The same afternoon, we will visit floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. We take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. We spend the rest of time visiting the “Chantiers Ecoles – Les Artisans d’Angkor” which provides training to young Cambodians

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 06: Siem Reap – Luang Prabang

Breakfast at hotel and transfer you to airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.  On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to check in the hotel. The rest of the day is your own time at leisure. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 07: Luang Prabang

Today, you will first visit Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then embark on a leisure cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.  Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine.

On arrival back in the city, we will visit magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.  Afterwards, we will visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday) to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures. From there, we will transfer to visit Wat Prabath to admire the sunset; this is the really peaceful place to catch the last beauty of the day. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 08: Luang Prabang – Kuang Si Waterfalls

An early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession. From there, we will take a short visit to the morning local market near the Royal Palace. At the market, you can find anything from rice, to fresh vegetables, to steamed fish, frogs, and anything else that might be the day’s catch, just set up on the ground, this is what the locals do every day. This is really the chance for you to get a real flavor of the local culture.

After breakfast at the hotel, we ascend the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the Mekong River. We then visit Wat Visoun, dating back to 1513 during the reign of King Wisunarat (Visoun), this is Luang Prabang’s oldest temple and was once home to the Prabang Buddhas.

We then transfer directly to the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. You can also see up close Asiatic bears at the Bear Rescue Centre along the jungle walk to the waterfall.

Before returning to Luang Prabang, we stop to visit the Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesday, and from 03rd May to 19th June every year), one of the must-visit spots, where you can have an optional 15-minute tour to learn about butterflies and local flora.

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, we will take a short visit to the Ock Pop Tock Living Craft Center, where you will have a short tour so you get information about Silk, about weaver, about the Women that work in the Centre. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 09: Luang Prabang – Hanoi

After breakfast at the hotel, your car and guide will take you to Elephant Village. On arrival, you will be welcome and greeting by the Camp Manager and participate in short briefing. After enjoying the impressive experience of approx. 30-minute elephant ride on the neck; you will then take a return boat trip to the Tad Sae Waterfall and spend some time in the clear water. Your lunch will be provided at the Elephant Village Restaurant (Buffet lunch served with Coffee or Tea and drinking water).

We are free to stroll around before transferring back to the center.  Along the way, we take a short visit to the tomb of the 19th century French explorer Henri Mouhot; the first European to rediscover Angkor Wat and the Royal Kingdom of Luang Prabang.

You have free time until transfer out to the airport to take flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, pick up then transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 10: Hanoi – Halong Bay

You will then leave Hanoi for Halong Bay, arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. You will stay overnight onboard.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tour guide: English speaking guide on board

Day 11: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, you will have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.), swim and relax at Soi Sim beach. At 9:30 a.m., your boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You will continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cabin check-out is at 11:45 am. The boat arrives at the harbor around noon and you will drive directly from Halong to Hanoi for overnight. After that you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Brunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 12: Hanoi City Tour – Flight to Hue

This full day tour takes you around Hanoi’s most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda and, nearby, the Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Also on the tour, the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake (with lovers street Thanh Nien), the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda or Quan Thanh Temple and one of the city’s museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum.

After you finished the trip, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Upon arrival, pick up then transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 13: Hue City Tour

You will embark on a tour of the city, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. You will stay overnight in Hue.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 14: Hue – Danang – Hoi An

Rising up in the ancient land, enjoy your breakfast in the hotel. Then, board a private boat for cruising the romantic Perfume River, visit Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), the ornate Minh Mang’s tomb. We will enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Leave the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Hue for Hoi An. You will travel over the Hai Van pass, stop in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages on the foot of Marble Mountain before arriving in Hoi An. Once in Hoi An, you will check into our hotel and have some free time to explore the town before an overnight stay.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 15: Hoi An Ancient Town

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. You will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Following the tour there will be free time to shop or relax. You will stay overnight in Hoi An..

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 16: Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh

You will then leave Hoi An for Danang Airport to take a one hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City. In the afternoon you will embark on a city tour of HCMC (Saigon) including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and bustling Ben Thanh Market. You will stay overnight in HCMC.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 17: Mekong Delta for a day to Ben Tre

Ben Tre is the best option for a day trip to the Mekong Delta from Saigon, since it is only around 2 hours away, and 15 minutes from My Tho. However, this wonderful destination retains an authenticity which has been somewhat lessened in nearby My Tho.

This picturesque and friendly Mekong Delta town has historically seen very few travelers, but the recent opening of a bridge connecting Ben Tre and My Tho has made it far easier for day trippers to visit from Saigon.

Our one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 am from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Ben Tre. While there, you can take a walk along the waterfront, lined with French era shops and houses, and you’ll see plenty of coconuts being unloaded from boats for dispatch around the country. Then, jump on a boat for a couple of hours of cruising on the Mekong River. You will enjoy your delicious lunch at a local restaurant or on board. The excursion will end at around 4:00pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Saigon.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Day 18: Ho Chi Minh Departure

There are no activities on today, free & easy. Then transfer to airport for your departure flight.

Meal: Breakfast

Tour guide: English speaking guide